Download a trial verison of ConDoc Tools for Sketchup Pro

Generate construction documents automatically with ConDoc Tools for Sketchup Pro.
ConDoc refers to a plugin that accelerates the process for producing construction documents as well as automates design packets, and radically advances your project organization by applying SketchUp Pro and LayOut. ConDoc is developed to facilitate architects and designers to enjoy a continuous workflow process, simplify all of the complicated phases associated with document formation. Besides, it allows you to get total control in all phases of your project devoid of applying other software programs.

 

ConDoc includes the following features :-
1. Arrange your model with the ConDoc system
2. Wide array of line weights, 2d dynamic hatches
3. Capability for drafting 2D details
4. Avail 2D Cad within sketchup
5. Distribute work among team members easily
6. Generate lightweight editable models
7. Automate the process for managing layers, styles, mixing shadows, camera setting, section planes etc.
8. Generate illustrative design packets and transparent sets of construction documents with a slew of line weights & dynamic hatches


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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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Thumb Cinema for sketchup – Newest sketchup extension

Aerilius has developed Thumb Cinema, a useful sketchup plugin that supports sketchup 2019. It allows the users to apply the mouse wheel for scrolling through scenes of the model with the flick of a finger to instantly navigate to a particular scene or view an animation in action with fine-grained control of interim steps among succeeding scenes.

Application:

• The tool can be activated from the toolbar or menu Window → Thumb Cinema
• Scroll up/down over the 3D viewport to toggle scenes forward/backward. As an alternative, press ←/→ on the keyboard.
• Press ⇧ Shift to switch rapidly (9× speed).
• Type a number and press Enter to settle the number of interim steps among two scenes (1 for each scene being only a single step, default is 9).

Requirements:

SketchUp 2019.2 — The mouse wheel is a new feature only accessible since the second SketchUp feature release of 2019. If one possesses a current subscription, just download and install the upgrade.

To download the extension Thumb Cinema, click on the following link extensions.sketchup.com

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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Some basic native tools in sketchup and their functionalities

Sketchup contains its own native tools which can be used to navigate, generate, and edit a 3D model. Besides, it also contains supplementary plugins and extensions. These plugins can perform a specific task that native tools lack.

Given below, the detail lists of some vital native SketchUp tools :-

Navigation Tools: With the Navigation Tools, the users can move all around the SketchUp viewport. These tools can be managed by the mouse buttons or applying the shortcut keys.

The navigation tools are sub-categorized as follow :-

• Zoom: It facilitates the users to be nearer or away from the object to be modeled with the scroll wheel of the mouse by moving it forward or backward. It is effective while viewing a minor detail or a general view in the 3D model. The quick shortcut key is “Z”.
  • Orbit: It allows orbiting the camera view by pressing and retaining the scroll wheel of the mouse. It is effective for analyzing the models from several angles. The quick shortcut key is “O”.
  • Pan: With the panning tool, it is possible to move devoid of losing the earlier perspective. It only arranges a vertical and horizontal movement and it is useful while framing a scene. To avail this tool, just hold the scroll wheel and press Shift simultaneously. For quick accessibility, press “H”.

Drafting Tools: Drafting Tools can be applied to generate something from the beginning. Drafting tools are sub-categorized as follow :-

• Line Tool: While design something in SketchUp, this tool is inevitable. It facilitates the users to produce any 2D surface by relating line segments. The lines are drawn in the X, Y and Z axis by the left click of the mouse. The quick shortcut key is “L“.
• Arc Tool: This tool not only draws a section from one point to another but also assign a third point to identify the arc curvature. The quick shortcut key is “A“.
• Eraser Tool: The main purpose of it is to rub out the unnecessary line segments. To apply it, just click with the left button of the mouse over any line. The quick shortcut key is “E“.

Editing Tools: SketchUp contains the following editing tools:

• Push Pull: It extrudes a 2D surface to transform it into a 3D shape. Just press “P” button to access it and place the cursor over the face according to your choice and then clicking the left button of the mouse for extruding.
• Scale: With this tool, it is possible to create any object selected bigger or smaller by applying a bounding box with some grips. Choose one grip and shift the cursor to scale your object. To make the scaling identical, choose the grips in the corners. The quick shortcut key is “S”.
• Move: Just press the “M” key and choose the object to be moved. The place you click in the object is considered as moving point. This prime objective of the tool is to adapt things in your model.
• Rotate: Just press the “Q” key and then clicking in the object to be rotated. The point you click on your object will be considered as the pivot point.
• Offset: It is used to create an equidistant line of any face. Just press “F” button and place your cursor on the line or surface to be offset. Then shift the cursor outside or inside as per your requirement, and finally provide a selected distance with the numeric pad.
• Follow Me: It extrudes a surface along any specified Path. Just choose the path to be worked with, then from the Edit toolbar, choose the “Follow me” tool. The surface to be extruded should be perpendicular to the selected guideline. By double-clicking to the surface, the extruded shape will be completed that follows the path direction.

Extensions: SketchUp also contains some native extensions which can be activated from the Toolbars available in the View menu.

• Sandbox Tools: This set of tools is suitable for terrain modeling from the beginning or from specified lines, like topographic curves for instance. It can produce a triangulated mesh that can be edited later as per requirements of your project.
• Solid Tools: It is only applicable with solids. They can be groups or components. It applies Boolean operations to integrate, subtract, split, intersect or trim one shape from another. It facilitates the users to generate more complex and cleaner models. It is available in the View menu in the toolbars section.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Print a Thing extension made 3D printing easier

SketchUp is an essential tool in 3D printing and SketchUp Extension warehouse is full of tools; among them, the Print a Thing extension made the 3D printing techniques easier.

SketchUp or Google SketchUp is mainly a3D modeling computer program that is used for a broad range of drawing applications used by architects, interior designer, landscape architects, civil and mechanical engineers, film and video game designers also. The Extension Warehouse of SketchUp is full of useful tools which are used in various 3D models to make the work attractive.

Extension Warehouse: It is an online resource with various plug-ins developed made especially for SketchUp and these extensions help to add some special tools and features to SketchUp. These extensions can be found for any particular application like drawing or 3D printing and some industry specified tools for architecture, interior design, construction and many more. So basically in this Extension Warehouse people can do the following things:

• Users can search extensions by name or as per the functionality.
• They can also install various extensions with a single click of a button.
• Or users can also control all the extensions from easy-to-use location in the My Extension page.

About Print a Thing: Print a Thing extension helps users to get an instant quote and 3D Print of the models with just a few clicks. This extension allows users to easily upload their works into the Print a Thing 3D Printing service for an instant quote, faster turn around and high quality prints. This extension also allows them to utilize a distributed network of quality 3D printers across the United States. SketchUp designers want to change the world for better through their technology and 3D printing is a way to see the world; that’s why they are trying to keep the 3D printing reasonable, simple, easier and communicable so that anyone can use it anywhere for any purpose. Print a Thing is released in a hope that it would be a positive force for startups, beginners and professionals both can do it themselves

Process of using: After installing the extension, users can find a new option in the menu bar called “3D Print with Print a Thing”; if users draw a shape and click on the menu a bar will come. From the bar they can choose their desired model and select it and add it in their cart; this extension allows creating models in a new way.



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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Some useful guidelines to perform exterior rendering with v-ray next for sketchup

This is an exclusive video tutorial for v-ray sketchup users. In this tutorial, detail process is given for performing a naturalistic exterior rendering with v-ray next for sketchup.

The following tools are used for different purposes :-

1. Sandbox tool, for forming the ground.
2. Artisan for completing the ground detail.

3. Solar North for settling the sun originates.
4. Skatter, to spray the assets to the ground.
5. Laubwerk, for adding the trees.

Sandbox Tools (extensions.sketchup.com)

The Sandbox Tools extension applies the concept of a sandbox that belongs to a surface to be created and managed with sandbox tools. This sketchup extension is effective for landscape design.

Artisan (sketchucation.com)

This sketchUp extension comprises of powerful organic modeling tools. Artisan can be used to create Terrain, Furniture, Characters, Abstract Sculptures, Fabric/Curtains/Pillows, Rocks/Tree Trunks/Plants etc.

Solar North (extensions.sketchup.com)

It offers tools for the users to settle and exhibit the solar north angle that SketchUp applies to work out the sun location, and consequently shadow directions.

Skatter (extensions.sketchup.com)

With skatter, it is possible to populate your scenes with unconstrained vegetation with complete control, all while saving time and never leave SketchUp.

From small carpets in a living room to large scale forests, Skatter is developed to facilitate retaining the final look rapidly and efficiently.

Laubwerk (www.laubwerk.com)

Laubwerk provides user-friendly software extensions for architects and CG artists who are in search for genuine 3D plants, and plant scattering tools. With drag-and-drop simplicity, and user-friendly tools to alter the shape, age, season and level of detail for each of Laubwerk's spectacular 3D plants, users will be able to effortlessly add 3D trees to any CG project. It is compatible with Autodesk 3ds Max & Maya, MAXON Cinema 4D, SideFX Houdini, Trimble SketchUp, and Python.

To get complete details about exterior rendering, go through the following video tutorial.



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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